Churchill Chargers

THE HISTORY OF THE PENNSYLVANIA HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS High School Hockey in Pennsylvania has grown to great proportions since its inception with over 150 schools participating in seven high school leagues across the Commonwealth. The state is divided into two sections, with Eastern Pennsylvania members clubs under the direction of the Delaware Valley High School Hockey Association and Western Pennsylvania under the direction of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League. The Delaware Valley High School Hockey Association consists of seven member associations representing the Central Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League (CPIHL), the Eastern High School Hockey League (EHSHL), the Inter-County Scholastic Hockey League (ICSHL), the Lower Bucks County Scholastic Hockey League (LBCSHL), the Lehigh Valley Interscholastic Hockey League (LVIHL), the Suburban High School Hockey League (SHSHL), and South Jersey High School Hockey League (SJHSHL). The Flyer Cup playoffs are held to determine the Flyer Cup Champions at Class A, AA, and AAA, who represent Eastern Pennsylvania at the Pennsylvania High School Hockey Championships. The two oldest leagues in Pennsylvania are the Inter-County Scholastic Hockey League, formed in 1969 and the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League, formed in 1971. The WPIHL was merged with the South Hills Interscholastic Hockey League (1980) and Lake Shore Hockey League (1974) to form the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League in 1999. The Penguin Cup playoffs are held to determine the Penguin Cup Champions at Class A, AA, and AAA, who represent Western Pennsylvania at the Pennsylvania High School Hockey Championships. The first Pennsylvania High School Hockey championships were held in April 1975 in Erie, Pennsylvania with representative schools from Eastern and Western Pennsylvania participating. The inaugural state championship was captured by the Baldwin Highlanders (WPIHL), who defeated the Churchill Chargers (WPIHL) 4-3 in overtime and the Pennsylvania State High School Hockey Championships were born. Other school participating in the inaugural championships were the McDowell Trojans (LKSHL), Richland Rams (WPIHL), Bishop Neumann Panthers (ICSHL) and Springfield Cougars (ICSHL) The Pennsylvania High School Hockey Championships are entering their 28th year in 2003. The original format of the playoffs was a round robin format in which the bracket winners would meet for the Pennsylvania State Championship. In 1981, the Pennsylvania High School Hockey Championships adopted a new look as the Eastern and Western Regional champions for the state championship, which has evolved into the format presently used when the Penguin Cup Champions meet the Flyer Cup Champions. Class AAA state champions have been crowned since 1975 (with the exception of 1978, when no playoffs were held). In all, 28 champions have been crowned with Western Pennsylvania capturing 20 championships and Eastern Pennsylvania winning 8. The multiple winners of Class AAA championships include Meadville (7), Bethel Park (3), Churchill (2), Baldwin (2) Conestoga (2), and Upper St. Clair (2). The 1987 Upper St. Clair Panthers and Meadville in 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995 as AAA schools to accomplish a perfect season through the regular season and playoffs. In 1977, Churchill had a 22-0-0 Regular Season and swept through the State Playoffs at 4-0-0, their lone blemish was a loss to Richland in the WPIHL Championship Playoffs.